Open end bandsaw



oct. 1s, 1957 v. c. NORQUIST 2,809,679.

OPEN END BANDsAw Filed Nov. 25. 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1957' v.C. NORQUST 2,809,679

OPEN END BANDSAW Filed Nov. 25. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z?? /Iga INVENTOR.

United States Patent OPEN END BANDSAW Victor C. Norqnist, Kansas City,Mo.; Lillian V. Norquist, executrix of said Victor C. Norquist,deceased, assignor to Marian V. Blankenship and Dei-Win Biankenship,both of Johnson County, Kans.

Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,975 8 Claims. (Cl. 143-17)This invention relates to bandsaws and refers more particularly to anopen end bandsaw having a work aperture which is effectively unlimitedin width.

Conventional bandsaws have many important disadvantages. Primarily,Yconventional bandsaws are severely limited in the width of the cutoffor work aperture by the diameter of the band supporting wheels (thelargest conventional bandsaws measuring about forty-two inches betweenthe opposite sides of the band). Additionally, such conventional bandsawframes must be extraordinarily stout so there will be no opportunity forthe blade to slack or kink, thus inevitably breaking the band. In aconventional bandsaw the pull on the band is at the top of the frameand, therefore, the supporting arm of the top of the frame must beextremely heavy and rigid. Additionally, in the conventional bandsaw,the operator must rely upon the velocity of motion of the band for thecutting force rather than the pull of the band itself because the bandis fitted on the driving wheels only by friction. Conventional bandsawsare very expensive and require a powerful, high speed motor to drivethem. Also, in the conventional bandsaw, burning of the band and breaksas a result thereof are common, in addition to band slacking or kinkingbreaks, thus making the conventional bandsaw unsafe in operation due tothe extremely high velocity of motion of the band. Furthermore, if theband slips on its friction surface on the drive wheels, the slightresultant slackening or bend is unable to pass through the cut in thework material and the band breaks. The length of the band which isavailable for sawing purposes lis limited by the total circumference ofthe driving wheels and, as a result, the bands wear out quickly and mustbe replaced. The welding, forming and replacing of bands is timeconsuming and expensive. Finally, it is well known that conventionalbandsaws are unable to cut thick stock metal, relatively hard metal orpipe and tubing stock.

Conventional ripsaws are well known for their hazard to the operator,not only for the menace of the high speed rotating saw disc but also forthe danger of flying splinters and knots from the work being cut.

Conventional jigsaw are employed for their precision sawing and fortheir ability to cut inside enclosed areas in the work. However, it iswell known that jigsaws cannot handle metal work, especially of heavystock, with any degree of success and that jigsaw blades have a highmortality rate.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an open endbandsaw which is able to perform essentially all of the functions ofconventional bandsaws, ripsaws and jigsaws without possessing theobjectionable features commonly associated with such devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an open end bandsaw havingan unlimited width of access to the cutting edge of the band whereby topermit sawing of work pieces, metal frames and the like of widths far inexcess of work widths useable with conventional bandsaws. Previouslylarge area sheets and metal pieces of the type feasible for use with thepresent invention have been necessarily cut by the use of dies or actualhand chiseling operations. Such expensive and time consuming operationswill be eliminated by the present device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an open end multipurposebandsaw which can function as a ripsaw, but without danger to theoperator from the saw teeth or flying splinters or knots, etc., from thework.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw which can saw within enclosed areas in the work andwhich operates at such a velocity and with such close control that veryprecise and accurate jigsaw-type work may be accomplished without thelimitations of the conventional jigsaw and on heavier work of all typesthan is 'conventionally employed with jigsaws.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw which operates at an extremely low velocity, therebyalmost completely removing the injury hazard to the operator from thesaw itself or breakage thereof, the extremely low velocity requiring amuch less powerful motor to drive the saw than those used withconventional bandsaws and providing greatly extended bandsaw life due tothe minimizing of friction heating of the blade and breakage thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw which may be ernployed with a band of essentiallyindefinite length whereby to provide a long effective sawing operationand whereby also to provide the option of combining a portion of bandsawof one type (such as to cut metal) and a portion of bandsaw of anothertype (such as to cut wood) in the same band, thereby minimizing bladechanging and replacements. When such a dual purpose band is provided itis also possible to adjust the starting and stopping mechanisms of theinventive bandsaw to limit the travel of the band so only the propertype of bandsaw will be employed with a given type of work.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw which can be fed far more heavily than lanyconventional bandsaw, which can cut far heavier metal stock and farharder metal stock than any conventional bandsaw and which willeffectively cut tubing and pipe stock without breakage or band toothloss.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw having automatic stopping means when the ends of theband are approached either in sawing or rewinding operations, thereversal of the direction of travel of the band being optionallyselfreversing or operator controlled, instant reversal of the band atthe ends thereof also optionally being provided if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an open end bandsaw whichpulls only on the lower reel in the sawing operation, thereby making theband even more resistant to breakage.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurposeopen end bandsaw having guides for the band positioned above and belowthe work surface, the guides providing a backing for the running band soas to permit heavier feeding thereof and also closely enclosing thesides of the band whereby to offer additional lateral support theretoand permit truer cutting operations, the lengths of the guides variableas desired to best t vthe material being sawed and also to vary thevertical height of the band available for sawing purposes above the worksurface, the lower guide being continuous with the lower face of thework surface to oder a maximum of support thereto.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following descriptionv ln the drawings, which form a part of theinstant specication and which are to be read in conjunction therewith,an embodiment of the invention is shown and, in the various views, likenumerals are employed to indicate like parts.

Fig. l is a side view with parts broken away and in section of theinventive multipurpose bandsaw.

Fig. 2 is an end view with parts in section and parts broken away of theinventive multipurpose open end bandsaw of Fig. l. Y

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l in the direction ofthe arrows. Y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of part of the reversing motor apparatus ofthe inventive bandsaw, the view being a side view taken in the directionopposite the direction of the view of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. l 1n the direction ofthe arrows.

Work surface or table 1G having opening 11 therein adjacent one endthereof is supported on floor 12-by legs 13. Lateral and longitudinalhorizontal frame members 14 and 15 are iixed'to the supporting legs 13.Plates 16 (shown only at the front end of the work surface or table)operate to close off the Working mechanisms of the bandsaw and serve asjournal supports for some of the driving shafts (to be described). Y

Upper band receiving reel 17 is rotatably mounted and supported abovethe work surface. Lower band receiving reel 1S is rotatably mounted andsupported below the work surface. The internal and outer diameters ofthe reels 17 and 18 depend upon the length of the band 19 to be woundthereon. Itis contemplated that from 50 to 100 feet of band 19 will befound most convenient but greater cfr lesser lengths thereof may beemployed. Teeth 2t) on band 19 cut downwardly and face at right anglesto the near edge of the work surface or table. of the reels arepreferably essentially parallel to two edges of the rectangular worksurface or table and essentially perpendicular to the other two, thereels being positioned adjacent the front edge of the work surface butthe front faces of said reels being positioned therebehind so that theband 19 maypass through opening 11 in the work surface. The band may beadapted to cut only one type of material or more than one. For example,one end of the band may beradapted so as to efiiciently cut wood and theother adapted so as to most efficiently cut metal. The central ends ofsuch different bands may be welded together to make a continuous strip.The adjusting stops for the reels and power source (to be laterdescribed) may be adjusted to start and stop the motion of the sawrelative the ends of these different strips of band if so desired. Theends of the band are clamped or otherwise iixedly attached to theinnerfaces of the reels. The depth between the inner faces of the reels isonly slightly greater than the width of the band. The grooves of thereels are in line one with the other so that the band feeds directlytherebetween through the opening 11 in the work surface or table. t

A supporting member having a vertical arm 21 and horizontal arm 22 isprovided for the upper reel 17 to position it relative the work surface.The supporting member is positioned relative the work surface wherebythe wldth of the access to thetband cutting edge is essentiallyunlimited. The horizontal arm 22 extends perpendicularly to the rearedge of the band, away therefrom, spaced upwardly from the work surfaceto permit insertion of work therebetween, andattached to the worksurface rearwardly of the rear edge of the band. The attachment 23between the horizontal bar 22 of the support member and the work surfacemay be paired as shown in Fig. l, or a singlevertical support attachmentVat the rear edge of the work surface or on an extension of the worksurface (not shown) to provide yetrmore jaw depth. The width and depthof the work surface may be varied as desired but it is contemplated thatthree to tive feet of The axes llt depth would probably take care ofmost contingencies.

it is desirable that the arms 21 and 22 hold the upper reel 7essentially rigid relative the work surface but they need not hold asrigidly as the supporting armof'a conventional bandsaw since, in theinstant invention, the pull is only on the lower reel inthe sawingoperation and other means are provided than extreme rigidity of thesupport member to maintain the band between the reels in tautrelationship during both the sawing and rewinding operations.

Upper 24 and lower 25 guides are preferably provided for the band andare respectively positioned above and below the work surface andadjacent the opening 11 therein. Guides 24 and 25 comprise three-sidedtracks or grooves which closely enclose a portion of the length of therear side of the band. The guides are so positioned relative the backedge of the band that contact of the work against the teeth 2t) on thefront edge of the band brings the rear edge .thereof against the innerface of the guides whereby to support the moving band and permit heavierfeeding of the workithereagainst. The enclosing side faces of the guidesalso permit constant or intermittentV contact of the moving bandtherewith and,V

thus, support and guide the band relative the work. The guides thuspermit much more accurate and precise control of the band relative thework. Upper guide 24 is spaced away from the work surface so the workcan be inserted therebetween, it being contemplated that guides ofvarious length be inserted in upper frame 26 and held relative theretoby screws 27 to be employed with work of varied thicknesses andmaterials. Upper guide frame 26 is fixed to arm 23 which is attached tosupport member horizontal bar 22 at 29 by any conventional clip orattachment. Lower guide 25 is fixed to frame 30 on the lower face ofwork surface 10 so that the guide slot of the lower guide is continuouswith opening 11. The lower guide 25 is also removable, but usually it isunnecessary to vary the length thereof.

Power source 31 is mounted relative the work surface on horizontalframes 14 and provides forward and reverse drive for reels 17 and 18whereby to saw when the band is driven downwardly and rewind when theband is driven upwardly. Power source 31 as shown in the figures is areversible electric motor having drive shaft 32 and supported by arms33.Belt receiving pulley 34 is fixed on the drive shaft 32. i

Upper reel 17 is mounted on stub shaft 35' received in bearing 36supported by vertical arm 21 xed to horizontal supporting arm 22. Upperdrive shaft 37 is enclosed by horizontal arm 22 and received in frontand rear bearings 38 and 39 thereon. Upper 40 and lower 41 pulleys on`stub shaft 35 and upper drive shaft 37 are connected bybelt 42. g

Lower reel supporting shaft 43 extends through and is supported by thework surface frame and has pulley 44 on the rear end thereof. Relativelyloose belt 45 connects pulley 44 and pulley 46 on the rear end of upperdrive shaft 37. Over-running clutch 37 (see Fig. 5) permits drive ofupper drive shaft 37 in rewind rotation (counterclockwise from the frontview) and frees the upper drive shaft in sawing rotation.

Lower reel supporting shaft 43 has chain receiving pulley 4S thereonbehind reel 18. Primary lower drive shaft 49 is journaled in the frontand rearA frame sheets (not shown) and has chain receiving pulley 50 atits front end engaged by chain 51 connected to pulley 48 and beltreceiving pulley 52 positioned between the ends thereof. Secondary lowerdrive shaft 53 is journaled in the frame sheets at 54 and .5,5 and hastwo belt receiving pulleys 56 and 57 between the ends thereof. Belt 58engages pulleys 52k and 56 on shafts 49 and 53, respectively, and belt59 engages front pulley 7 on secondary driveshaft 53 and pulley 34 onmotor shaft 32. Y

Fig. 3 illustrates the starting, stopping and reversing switch for thereversible electric motor 31. Conventional reversing switch 6G properhas rotatable shaft 61 extendinO upwardly therefrom supporting frame 62.Spring strip 63 is engaged at its lower end by frame 62 and at its upperend by horizontal plate 64. When strip 63 is centrally positioned as inFig. 3, the current ow to the power source 3l is off. Rotation of strip63 o center to either the left or the right turns on the power source 3lin either saw or rewind drive (clockwise or counterclockwise rotationfrom the front view, respectively, of motor shaft 32). The resilience ofthe strip 63 tends to return it to its central off position. Side arms65 extend outwardly from the back plate 66. Rightangled levers 67 and 68are pivoted at 69 and 70 on the side arms. Rods 7l and 72 connect theupper lever arms with rear extension 62a (Fig. l) of frame 62. Verticalrods 71a and 72a connect with the lower lever arms whereby up and downmotion of rods 71a and 72a pivot frame 62 to rotate strip 63 in onedirection or another.

Two actuating means are provided to twist strip 63 to regulate itsposition. The lirst is the operator foot control which operates torotate the strip in either direction from olf so long as the operatordepresses one of two foot pedals (to be described), the second is theautomatic control which returns the strip 63 from either side positionto od (central) when the band end is approached in either rewind or sawmotion (to be secondarily described).

rfhe foot control comprises a pair of pedals 73 and 7d, Fig. 2, mountedon shaft 74a liXed to the frame legs and attached at their front ends torods 71a and 72a, res ectirely. Depression of the front end of eitherpedal will move the tied-in lever arm 67 or 63 to rotate frame e?, tothe left or right, respectively (from front view), to turn cn the motoreither in saw or rewind motion. So long as the pedal is maintained indepressed position, the motor will run (provided the end of the bandeither in saw or rewind is not approached, as will be later eX- lained).When the operators foot pressure is removed, the resilience of thespring strip 63 acting through the lever arms 67 and 68 will return thepedal to off position. Additional springs (not shown) may be providedunder the pedals '73 or 74 to aid return. Thus, automatic shutoff onfoo-t release is provided.

Referring now to the automatic band-end shutoff, arms 73 and 76 Pigs. land 3 are pivotally fastened to rods 71a and 72o, respectively, at theirforward ends and hinged at 77 and 7S, respectively, at their rear endsto the longitudinal horizontal frame members. Cam shaft 79 extendsbetween the horizontal frame members and is rotatably journaled at itsends therein. Opposed cams Si) and 8l are positioned respectively underarms 7S and 76 and are fixed to cam shaft 79 at their ends. Flange S2 isfixed to earn shaft 79 and rod 83 is pivotally connected thereto by boltS4. Lateral motion of rod 83 forwardly or rearwardly will rotate camshaft 79 so that one of the cams will contact one of the hinged arms 75or 76, moving it upwardly thereby to rotate through the lever system thespring strip 63 back to off position and also prevent the actuation ofthe foot pedal 73 or 74 on the side of the raised cam.

Sleeve 85 encloses lower reel supporting shaft 43 and is threaded 36 tothreaded section 87 thereof. Adjustable circumferential flange 88 withdepending portion S9 is fastened to the outer face of sleeve 85 byflange screw 9d. Rod :33 is slideably attached to depending portion S9by stud 9i, Fig. 4, and has retaining staples 92 and 93 thereon. Slottedframe 94 is xed to horizontal frame member l5 by bolts 95 and serves toprevent rotation of sleeve 85 with lower reel suporting shaft 43 byabutment of stud 9i in slot 96. It is evident that rotation of lowerreel supporting shaft 43 will cause sleeve 8S to slide relative thereto,depending on the direction of the threads and the direction of vrotationof the shaft 43. Fig. l shows the sleeve threaded portion 86 spacedintermediate on the shaft threaded portion v87. Rotation of the lowerreel supporting shaft 43 in clockwise direction (from front view) insawing direction will move the slide 85 forwardly, thus raising cam Setoward arm and lowering cam 81 from arm 76. Co-unterolockwise rotationof the same shaft in rewind direction will move the slide rearwardlywith opposite effect on the cams. These assumptions are based on thethread angling to the left in the side view shown in Fig. l. Reversingthe angle of the threads, of course, would reverse the above describedaction.

However, assuming the thread angle shown, assuming the cam to the right(from front view) extends forwardly (so forward motion of rod 83 cams uphinged arm 75), motion to the right (from the front view) of springstrip 63 starts the shaft 32 of power source 31 rotating in clockwise(again from the front) or sawing direction. Likewise, motion of thespring strip to the left will start drive shaft 32 of power source 31 incounterclockwise or rewind motion. Further, rotation of lower reelsupporting shaft 43 in clockwise direction moves rod 83 and sleeve 85forwardly to cam up arm v7S to return the spring strip from rightposition to off and rotation of lower reel supporting shaft 43 incounterclockwise direction causes the opposite reaction with theopposite cam 81. rlhe relative positions of staples 92 and 93 on theslideably mounted rod 83 determine the effective movement of rod S3relative the rotational distance of lower reel suporting shaft 43.

ln operation, assuming either the entire band positioned on the upperreel or the band being distributed in some intermediate position betweenthe two reels as in Fig. 2, depression of the front end of right handpedal 73 will draw down rod 7la, thus rotating spring strip 63 to theright (from front view). Switch 6i) then energizes from any suitablepower source (not shown) the electric motor 31 and drive shaft 32rotates in clockwise direction (from the front). Belt 59 drives pulley57 on shaft 53 in the same direction and belt S8 connecting pulleys 56and 52 drives lower drive shaft 49 again in clockwise direction. Chain5l connecting pulleys 56 and 48 also drives lower reel supporting shaft43 in clockwise direction, thereby pulling the band 19 downwardlythrough opening Ill in the work surface. A very slow rate of band motionis contemplated, one to two feet per second being satisfactory. This lowrate of band progression permits the closely fitting guides 24 and 25 tosupport and position the band in its motion. The over-running clutch 47on upper drive shaft 37 frees the shaft 37 in the clockwise rotation ofpulley 46 so that the long belt 45 between the two pulleys 46 and 44 onthe upper and lower shafts 37 and 43 does not furnish any of therotational force for the upper reel 17. Brake 97 serves to keep the bandi9 taut during the sawing operation, the power source 3l pulling againstthe friction of the brake during the sawing operation. While the lowerreel supporting shaft 43 is rotating in a clockwise direction taking upthe band, the sleeve is moved forwardly on shaft 43 and gradually cam 80moves up against hinged arm 75 and contacts it, thus forcing the rod 71aupwardly and returning the spring strip 63 to the off position. Thestaples 92 and 93 on rod 83 have been adjusted so that the cam actiondoes not take place until essentially all of the band has gathered outhe lower reel. lt is also contemplated that the rod staples 92 and 93be adjusted so that any desired portion of the band be run between thetwo reels before the stop mechanism is put into action. Such anadjustment would be most useful where the two ends of the band areadaptable for cutting of different types of materials.

When the cam 8) has moved upwardly to return the spring strip 63 tocentral or olf position, it is impossible for the operator to depressthe right hand foot `pedal 73 to further operate the power source inclock- 7 wise or sawing direction. To rewind the band on the upper reel,the left-hand foot pedal 74 is depressed, thus lowering. rod 72a andmoving thespring strip 63 to the left (from front view). This switcheson the power source 3i and rotates the drive shaft 32 thereof incounterclockwise or rewind direction. All of the shafts below the worksurface, due to their interconnection by belts and chain, also rotate inthe counterclockwise direction. it should be pointed out that theleft-hand pedal can be depressed any time (unless there are special bandlimitations imposed on the rod staples 92 and 93) that the band is notentirely collected on the upper reel. Thus, the .operator can reversethe band at any time. The over-running clutch 47 is now running in theengaging direction so that belt 45 connecting upper and lower pulleys i6and 44 operates to drive upper drive shaft 37 from lower reel receivingshaft 43. To compensate for thesituation when the larger portion of theband is positioned on the lower reel 18, the upper pulley 46 is madesmaller in diameter than the lower pulley 44 and the belt therebetweenis relatively loose. Thus, there wiil tend to be a greater pull on theleft side (from the front view) of lrhe top pulley 46 with acorresponding slaclrening of the belt on the right-hand side. Thelooseness of the belt permits periodic slipping thereof on the upperpulley 46 so that excessive strain on the belt 45 is avoided. The upperpulley 46 need be made only so much smaller in diameter than the lowerpulley d4 that tension is maintained on the left side of belt Q (fromthe front view) while the wound diameter of the bandsaw i9 on the lowerreel is greater than the wound diameter of the bandsaw on the upperreel. Once the aggregated quantity of saw on the upper reel exceeds thatof the saw on the lower reel, there will automatically be tension in thebelt 45 due to the fact that more saw is wound on the upper reel 17during one revolution thereof than is taken oif of lower reel 18 duringthe same period. The loose belt 45 by its periodic slipping on thepulley 46, provides an even application of force to the upper driveshaft 37 without excessive strain on the belt 4e'.

Once again, when essentially all of the saw 19 is aggregated on theupper reel, the cam 81 is moved upwardly by the rearward motion of rod83 and slide 85 thereby contacting arm 75 to return the spring strip 63to the central off position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention is one welladapted 'to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the arrangement disclosed.

it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theapl pended claims.

inasmuch as various possible modifications of the invention may be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood thatall matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A bandsaw comprising a work supporting surface positioned above thesupporting floor level, an upper reel rotatably mounted above said worksurface, a lower reel rotatably mounted below said work surface, shaftsconnected to said reels for rotating them in forward and reversedirections, a length of bandsaw in excess of the distance between thereelsrwound thereon and communieating between one side of each reel andthe corresponding side of the other through a single opening in the worksurface, a reversible power source mounted xedly relative said surface,means connecting said power source to the lower reel shaft whereby torotate said reel as to wind the band thereon in one direction of driveof the motor .8 Y in the sawing operation and means connecting saidlower reel shaft to said upper reel shaft whereby the other direction ofdrive of the motor rotates both reels so as to wind the band on theupper reel in the rewind oper-Y ation.

2. A bandsaw as in claim l including means freeing said upper shaft fromthe drive connection to the lower shaft while the band is being wound onthe lower reel.

3..A bandsaw as in claim 2 including means for braking said upper shaftwhen the'band is being wound on the lower reel whereby to maintain theband taut between the reels.

4. A bandsaw as in claim 1 including means for maintaining that portionofthe band extending between the reels taut and preventing excessivestrain thereon when the band is being wound on the upper reel.

5. A band saw comprising a work-supporting surface positioned above thesupporting door level, an upper reel rotatably mounted above said worksurface, a lower reel rotatably mounted below said work surface, alength of band saw in excess of the distance between the reels woundthereon and communicating between one side of each reel and thecorresponding side of the other through a single opening in the worksurface, a power source mounted iixedly relative said work surface, saidpower source operative to provide at least forward drive for the reels,the power source in said forward drive driving Y the lower reel inrotation to pull the band saw downwardly through the work surface tosaw.

6. A band saw comprising an extensive work supporting surface positionedabove the supporting floor level, an

upper reel rotatably mounted above said work surface, a lower reelrotatably mounted below said work surface,

a length of band saw in excess of the distance betweenV the two reelswound thereon and communicating between one side of each reel and thecorresponding side of the other through a single opening in said worksurface, the reels and Opening in the work surface positioned adjacentthe forward edge of the work surface, supporting means for the upperreel comprising a supporting arm extending kperpendicularly to thecutting edge of the band and rearwardly away therefrom, said supportingarm spaced upwardly from the work surface to permit insertion of worktherebetween and attached relative to said work surface adjacent theedge of the work surface opposite the rear edge of the band andessentially the maximum distance from said edge possible on saidsurface, a power source mounted xedly relative said work surface, saidpower source operative to provide at least forward drive for one of thereels, the power source driving the lower reel in rotation to pull theband downwardly through the openingrin the work surface to saw inforward drive.

7. A band saw comprising an extensive work supporting surface positionedabove the supporting floor level, an upper reel rotatably mounted abovesaid work surface, a lower reel rotatably mounted below said worksurface, a length of band saw in excess of the distance between the tworeels wound thereon and communicating between one side of each reel andthe corresponding side of the other through a single opening in saidwork surface, supporting means for the upper reel comprising asupporting arm extending perpendicularly to the cutting edge of the bandand rearwardly away therefrom, said supporting arm spaced upwardly fromthe work surface to permit insertion of work therebetween, saidsupporting arm lixedly positioned relative said work surface sosubstantially the whole work supporting surface rearwardly of the frontedge of the work surface is clear, a power source mounted fixedlyrelative said work surface, said power source operative to provide atleast forward drive for one of the reels, the power source driving thelower reel in rotation to pull the band downwardly through the openingin the work surface to saw in forward drive.

8. A band saw as in claim 7 including an upper guide for the bandrigidly positioned above the work surface and a lower guide for the bandrigidly positioned below the work surface, both guides essentiallyvertically in line with the opening in the Work surface, and both guidesclosely enclosing a portion of each side and the rear edge of the bandwhereby the band may be forced rearwardly or sideways against the guidesto oer resistance against forced feeding of the work against the band,the upper guide attached to the supporting arm with its lower edgeextending relatively close to the work surface and the lower guideattached to the underside of the Work surface with its upper edge nextsaid underside, the opening in the Work surface and the upper and lowerguides being positioned vertically in line with a position intermediatethe inner and outer boundaries of the band when it is fully Wound on theupper reel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS HedgeMay 8, Prescott Apr. 29, Zumbro May 19, Potter et al. June 7, Shinn Apr.30, Arkema May 31, Grob Aug. 17, Grob et al. Aug. 26, Ocenasek Nov. 30,

